Space Report: Rubric Categories Reasoning understanding of the main ideas number and relevance of supporting facts and

details Communication voice (use of the authors own words) contains words taken directly from the text contains some words from the text as well as the students own words has some sentence variety contains some variety of vocabulary contains appropriate words from the text as well as the students own words has a good variety of sentences contains a good variety of vocabulary contains ideas expressed concisely in the students own words, which expand on the concepts has an extensive variety of sentences used effectively contains an extensive vocabulary used correctly and effectively contains paragraphs that are well developed, with clear topic sentences and relevant supporting details clearly identifies many components of the solar system and describes their physical characteristics in qualitative terms Level 1 shows limited understanding of the main ideas retells few of the main ideas Level 2 shows some understanding of the main ideas retells some of the main ideas, including supporting details Level 3 shows general understanding of the main ideas summarizes most of the main ideas and includes supporting details Level 4 shows thorough understanding of the main ideas summarizes and interprets all the main ideas and includes supporting details

sentence variety (structure, type, length) use appropriate science and technology vocabulary Conventions paragraph structure

has little sentence variety contains a limited vocabulary

lacks a paragraph structure

identify components of the solar system and describe their physical characteristics in qualitative terms

does not identify components of the solar system and describe their physical characteristics in qualitative terms

contains paragraphs that have some structure, but more than one topic may be combined within a paragraph identifies few components of the solar system and describes their physical characteristics in qualitative terms

contains paragraphs that have topic sentences and related details

clearly identifies some components of the solar system and describes their physical characteristics in qualitative terms